Abstract: The load-bearing capacity of cylindrical shells of a composite fiber material that are at risk of buckling is determined by deriving improved reduction factors for analytical calculation of the design load. A load distribution head applies an axially acting force to a cylinder shell. A dent actuator dents the surface of the cylinder shell in a predetermined dent direction with a predetermined dent depth. A dent force is determined when a steadily increasing, axially acting force is applied to the cylinder shell by the load distribution head until a complete failure of the cylinder shell is detected. An analysis unit determines a dent depth from a data memory at which a dent force at a complete failure of the cylinder shell is at a maximum compared to dent forces of other dent depths.

Abstract: A device is configured to allow for the load-bearing capacity of cylindrical shells of a composite fiber material that are at risk of buckling to be determined. The device allows for deriving improved reduction factors for analytical calculation of the design load, which enables an improved approximation to the actual load-bearing capacity.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of an integrally reinforced lightweight structure with a fiber-reinforced plastic by a molding tool, the structure having stiffening ribs crossing one another at node points and a skin attached to the stiffening ribs. The molding tool has channel-type depressions for creating the stiffening ribs. The steps include laying down into the depressions at least one intermediate layer and at least one reinforcement layer, repeating the laying down until the depressions are at least partially filled with intermediate layers and reinforcement layers to form the stiffening ribs with integral connecting feet, populating the molding tool with intermediate layers and reinforcement layers for manufacturing the skin, and curing and/or solidifying the intermediate layers and reinforcement layers. A resulting lightweight structure and a device for the manufacture of the lightweight structure are also disclosed.